Lochnagar Loop

Lochnagar Loop

A five day loop from the Raspberry Creek carpark in the West Matukituki Valley. Day one took me to Aspiring Hut in the West Matukituki valley before heading up to camp in the Cascade Saddle area. Day 2 started with a walk down the upper Dart Valley before turning up toward the head of Snowy Creek. Day 3 was a shorter, but still very interesting day. It began with a trip over a saddle to the high basin above Pine Creek. From there, an intimidating sidle took me to another saddle overlooking Lochnagar, a beautiful lake created by a massive slide. A quick drop down brought me to my favorite hut in New Zealand. Day 4 began with a leisurely morning wandering around this beautiful area. Some time after noon, I forced myself to head out to the Shotover Valley where I turned upstream and made for Tummel Burn Hut. Day 5 took me over Shotover Saddle and back down to the West Matukituki Valley and Raspberry Flat.

The upper reaches of the Dart River. Water falls from the Marshall Glacier above.

Track in the Upper Dart Valley

It's a beautiful stroll down toward Dart Hut.

Dart Valley and Mt Cunningham

Looking back upstream to Mt Edward and Mt Ansted

Dart Hut from the Snowy Creek confluence

Looking back to the Dart Valley from the track to Rees Saddle

Mt Edward

Rees Saddle and Snowy Creek Bridge

A look up Snowy Creek from Rees Saddle

The Gloomy Gorge of Snowy Creek

Gloomy Gorge

This is a perfect characterization of New Zealand terrain. An unsorted, but vegetated alluvial fan on a steep slope. These mountains are young. In fact, technically, they are still growing. The only thing keeping them from rising in elevation is the rapid rate of erosion due to weather and surface processes. As dynamic as the terrain may be, the climate is still wet enough that even on a steep alluvial fan with constant bombardment from above, vegetation will still take hold.

A look straight up to Mt Tewha from the Snowy Valley

A nice view of the Tyndall Glacier. Mt Tyndall summit is the rightmost peak on the skyline.